Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows

I was never sure how sweet potato casserole became a Thanksgiving dinner side dish instead of a dessert, but it was always one of my favorites. Today, it's still a favorite, but since the traditional dish contains dairy and eggs, and most marshmallows contain animal-derived gelatin, I've adapted the recipe to make it vegan.

Fortunately, this vegan sweet potato casserole is incredibly easy to make! You can even make it in advance if you need to save time on Thanksgiving day. And absolutely no one is going to miss the dairy or eggs in this dish, so it's perfect for serving a crowd.

If you want to try a different topping, you can also check out my sweet potato casserole with pecans and brown sugar recipe.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

If you have questions about what kind of sweet potatoes you should use or whether you can substitute the coconut milk, check this section for the answer. If you have questions that aren't addressed here, feel free to leave a comment, and I'll reply as soon as I can!

sweet potatoes: For this dish, I recommend using sweet potatoes with orange flesh, such as Jewel or Garnet varieties. Purple sweet potatoes would also make a colorful twist on the classic if you're feeling creative!

coconut milk: For the best taste, look for canned coconut milk that isn't labeled "lite" or reduced fat. Most people won't taste any coconut flavor in this recipe, but if you prefer, you could also use another type of non-dairy milk instead. Because other non-dairy milks are more watery than canned coconut milk, you may want to reduce the amount of milk you use to 1/4 cup or 6 tablespoons.

maple syrup: I love the flavor of maple syrup in this recipe, but vegan light brown sugar or agave would also work here. Agave is sweeter than maple syrup, so you may want to use a little less. If you're using maple syrup, feel free to adjust the amount to your taste. You may also want to reduce the coconut milk if you're adding extra maple syrup.

vegan butter: Most types of vegan butter will work here, including store-bought sticks and spreads or my homemade vegan butter. I don't recommend replacing with oil, because the vegan butter adds a rich, buttery flavor to the casserole.

vanilla extract: For the best results, I recommend using real vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla. Real vanilla has more complex flavors than artificial versions.

salt: This enhances all the flavors of the dish. I used sea salt, but pink salt or table salt will also work.

cinnamon and nutmeg: These warm spices pair perfectly with sweet potatoes. You could also use ground ginger, allspice, or cloves if you prefer.

vegan mini marshmallows: Since most marshmallow brands contain animal-derived gelatin, you'll want to look for marshmallows that are labeled vegan. See the next section for my recommendations.

Finding Vegan Marshmallows

In the US, there are two widely available choices for vegan mini marshmallows: Trader Joe's brand and Dandies. Both brands contain the same ingredients, but there are some differences.

While vegan marshmallows won't melt in exactly the same way that gelatin-based marshmallows do, they will still melt into a delicious topping for your sweet potato casserole. I used Dandies marshmallows in this recipe, and you can see how they melted and browned in the photos. Trader Joe's marshmallows are softer and tend to melt more quickly, so you may want to bake the casserole for 10 minutes before adding the marshmallows if you're using that brand.

I like the flavor of both brands of marshmallows, but some people do have a preference. If you're not sure, you may want to buy one of each and taste them before you make your casserole.

Trader Joe's marshmallows are available at Trader Joe's stores around the US. Dandies, on the other hand, is available at natural foods stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts, and you can also order them online.

Serving Suggestions

Sweet potato casserole is a classic Thanksgiving side dish that's typically served as part of a large feast. Some people make it for their Christmas dinner as well. If you're planning a vegan holiday dinner, you may want to check out my vegan Thanksgiving menu or my vegan Christmas recipes collection to get more plant-based inspiration.

My favorite vegan Thanksgiving dinner main dishes and sides include:

• lentil loaf
• classic vegan stuffing
• vegan green bean casserole
• vegan cornbread
• butternut squash casserole
• vegan sour cream mashed potatoes

Make Ahead

The holidays are busy, and this dish is perfect if you need to prepare something in advance. You could make it up to 3 days ahead of time, but I recommend making it 1 or 2 days in advance if you expect to have leftovers.

To make this recipe ahead of time, just follow the recipe normally, but stop after you spread the sweet potato filling into the casserole dish. After filling the casserole dish (without the marshmallows), let it cool at room temperature, then cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it.

Before you're ready to bake it, remove the casserole from the refrigerator and bring it back to room temperature. Then, add your marshmallows and bake as usual. If you're short on time and need to bake the casserole straight from the refrigerator, bake it first for 10 minutes without the marshmallows, then add the marshmallows and continue baking for 25 to 30 minutes.

Storage and Reheating

If you have leftovers, you can cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and store the whole dish in the refrigerator. You can also transfer the casserole to an airtight container and refrigerate it. You can store this sweet potato casserole for 5 days in the refrigerator, but after 2 to 3 days the marshmallows may start to break down from moisture. I don't recommend freezing.

Reheat the whole casserole in the oven. For individual servings, my preferred method is the air fryer. Place some of the sweet potato casserole on a sheet of aluminum foil and create a tent with the foil to cover it without touching the marshmallows. Then heat it in the air fryer until it's heated all the way through. If you prefer, you can also reheat it in a bowl in the microwave.